THE Smith brothers have created their own parking space at Kircubbin and needed it last Saturday as, with 15 horses representing the Gilford yard through the grades, it was a case of all hands on deck between the phases and between classes.

Steven struck early for the team as he won the seven-runner O/CNC1* with the eight-year-old Ghareeb gelding Ballyward, who completed on his dressage score (32.3), while his stable-companion Hill Patrol, who was also ridden by Smith, added four show jumping penalties to his first phase mark of 28.8 to claim second. Ballyward is owned by MiMi Falb who finished fourth in the CNC1* Amateur class with Kilpipe Jewel on whom she is due to represent the USA in the Land Rover CCI1* at Tattersalls later in the month.

Smith had two rides also in the Horse First CNC1* class, finishing seventh with Newferry Jagermeister, a winner at Tyrella (3), and third on his dressage score with the eight-year-old Camiro De Haar Z gelding Donogue Big Ronnie who had been competing in Britain earlier this season and for the past two years. He started his competitive career here but as a show jumper.

On her third outing at this level, Co Louth’s Millie Jane Bell won the three-runner CNCJ1* class on her mother Sharon’s Hillview Quality Control, a seven-year-old gelding by OBOS Quality 004 with whom she competes regularly under Showjumping Ireland rules. Bell’s total of 36.2 included a small number of time penalties on both jumping phases while Hollie Smith completed on her dressage score for second with Anvil Lodge Pinnochio (40.8).

Smith however did return home with a ‘first’ rosette following her all-the-way win in the eight-runner EI100J class with Diane Harron Eakin’s home-bred Ringfort Rubicon. On a total of 27.3, which included a fence down show jumping, the 10-year-old Iroko gelding had over seven points in hand over the second-placed Melody Maker on whom Katherine Shields was the only one to complete on her dressage score (34.5).

Another rider to lead from start to finish was Comber’s Katie McKee who did so in the CNCP2* class with her mother Elaine’s Connemara gelding Fair Lad.

Although he rolled a pole, the eight-year-old by Gwennic de Goariva was the only one of the five starters to beat the clock in the show jumping ring and, although two seconds over the time, was the fastest of the quintet across the country for a completion score of 31.1. Another Connemara gelding, the 10-year-old Tynan Mist, finished second (33.65) under Lucy Johnston.